Live Webcasts

Victoria shark sightings jump to twenty in one day

Life Saving Victoria says it’s sharkier than normal this year

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 9 January, 2017 - One day after two popular Melbourne beaches were closed due to the spotting of five sharks by helicopter patrol, reports have come in that more beaches are being closed.

The reason for the new closures is the sighting of 20 sharks in waters adjacent to popular beaches on Victoria’s surf coast. Life Saving Victoria operations manager Greg Scott has been up in a chopper on shark patrol and testified to the increase in activity.

“There are a lot more sharks closer to shore than we've seen at any time in recent years," Mr Scott told the Herald Sun on Monday. "I'd say it's sharkier than normal."

"We're seeing sharks probably within 10 metres of the shoreline, maybe even less," he told 3AW. "When we sound the siren we want people to get out of the water."

The sharks are mainly bronze whalers but a there have been great white sightings as well. Local officials said the bronze whalers are known to school when the bait fish appear.